Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller

Kerri Miller Podcast Tile
Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller
MPR News

Where readers meet writers, Fridays at 11 a.m. Listen live or stream later on your favorite podcast app.

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Books Coverage: The Thread | About: Kerri Miller

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Looking at the future of the Democratic Party
Although President Joe Biden ultimately won the presidential race, the question remains: Why didn’t Democrats do as well as had been expected? Taking lessons from 2020, what could Democrats do to strengthen their hold in Congress in the next election cycle? What strategies might they implement to counter persuasive GOP messaging? 
What transitioning taught a transgender pastor about power, sex and patriarchy
When Paula Stone Williams announced she was going to transition from being a man to being a woman, her world imploded. She lost her job as a Christian leader, and her family was in turmoil. In her new memoir, she shares what she discovered about herself, what it means to be transgender, and what she learned about the patriarchy as she lives her life as a strong woman.
COVID cases are down but so are vaccinations, leading to fears of another surge
Vaccination rates are at a near standstill. Meanwhile, the most contagious variant of the COVID-19 virus yet is spreading quickly in the United States. Is another surge inevitable?
What's a true summer 'beach read'?
Summer officially started last week, so Kerri Miller is asking:  What’s a true “beach read”?
What ‘duty to intervene’ means in policing
Minneapolis established a “duty to intervene” policy in 2016, setting a rule that officers must “either stop or attempt to stop another sworn employee when force is being inappropriately applied or is no longer required.” How is that rule applied in practice?
Why is it so hard to find workers right now?
Businesses of many types report they can’t find people to hire right now, despite high unemployment numbers. 
How critical race theory became the latest battle in the culture war
Critical race theory has been around for about 50 years. But inflamed by conservative media, it’s become the latest flashpoint in the culture wars. Several states have already banned it from being taught in K-12 schools. What are the implications?
America’s drinking problem and what to do about it
The Journal of the American Medical Association reported a 41 percent increase in the frequency of heavy drinking among women, compared to 2019. Is the pandemic to blame? 
A fresh look at the intent of the Second Amendment
In her new book, historian Carol Anderson says the Second Amendment is more about keeping guns away from Black people than enshrining a right to bear arms in the U.S. Constitution.
Author Lionel Shriver on her new book, ‘Should We Stay or Should We Go’
Is it better for life to end before it decays into something unrecognizable? That’s the question at the heart of Lionel Shriver’s new novel, which touches on themes of dementia, aging and how to die with dignity — but in a surprisingly playful way.